Football
Mike Whalley 9y

Brendan Rodgers: Mario Balotelli will get chance to return for Liverpool

LIVERPOOL -- Mario Balotelli will be given the opportunity to save his Liverpool career, manager Brendan Rodgers has said.

Balotelli's long-term Anfield future has been the subject of speculation after a poor first five months at the club.

The striker has not scored a Premier League goal since arriving from AC Milan for 16 million pounds in August, and was left out of the squad for Saturday's 0-0 FA Cup fourth-round draw at home to Championship side Bolton despite being fit.

Rodgers indicated after that game that Balotelli had not performed well enough in training to play for the Reds.

The manager said on Jan. 15 that the 24-year-old, who has a contract until 2017, would not be sold in the January transfer window.

Although he has at no stage ruled out a sale at the end of the season, Rodgers insisted Balotelli would be given the opportunity to show that he deserves to stay.

He said: "We'll give Mario every chance. We brought him in here for this season to give him every chance to show he can play consistently at this level.

"It has been a difficult period for him, there's no doubt. But he's a good boy. He wants to fight for his chance here.

"I've seen some clippings this morning saying that's him over with here. That's not the case at all.

"I've shown a number of times here that players out of the fold who work hard in training have every chance to get back in the team -- and stay there.

"So the opportunity's there for Mario and for every player, not just him."

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